Skate



'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEO. w. DYER, OE DERBY, CONNECTICUT.

SKATE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 32,938, dated July 30, 1861.4

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. DYER, of Derby, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Skates; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this application.

My invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of skates, and consists in making the runner of two distinct bars hung by screw bolts to ears, or stands in such manner that the said bars may be adjusted to different distances apart as hereinafter described. And my invention further consists in beveling thebottom surfaces of the runner bars in suoli manner, that when brought together' they will form a guttered runner as hereinafter fully described.

-To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention I will proceed to describe its construct-ion and operation referring by letters to the accompanying drawings forining part of this specification and in which- Figure 1. is a perspective view of one of my improved skates with the runner bars placed close together. Fig. 2. is a similar view with the runners some distance apart. Fig. 3. is a vertical section at m. as. Fig. 2. and Fig. 4L. is a vertical section at y. y. Fig. l. Figs. l and 2. illustrate the skate in an inverted position to that it would be in when in use, so as to show the runners, distinctly.

In the several views the same parts ai'e illustrated by the same letters of reference.

A. is the stock ofthe skate, which I have illustrated made of wood in the usual form.

B. and C. are the two parallel bars which constitute the runner. These bars B and C. ai'e secured to the ears a, which project from the under side of stock A. by means of bolts o. passing through them.

c. are separating blocks the use of which will be presently explained.

e. is a steadying bolt which may be eniployed to strengthen the runner by locking the two bars B. and C. together as seen at Fig. 2. At Fig. 1. the two bars B. and C.

are shown in Contact laterally, with each other, while at Fig. 2. said bars are shown some distance apart. This adjustment in the relative positions of the bars B. C. is thus eifected, when the bars B. C. are placed around the ears o. and the bolts l). put through as seen at Figs. 1 and 4. The Shanks of bars B and C. ai'e so shaped that the bars come into close contact as shown and are held in this position by the bolts b. Then it is desired to extend the bearing surface of the ruimer by putting the bars B and C. farther apart, the blocks C. are placed between the ear, or stand a., (one on each side) and the bars B and G. and the bolts l). reinserted, and their nuts z'. put on; when the runner bars B and C. will be separated as seen at Figs. 2 and 3 and the bearing surface of the skate runner, increased. 'The runners may be braced by a cross bolt c. see Fig. 2. The lower edges or bottoms of the bars B and C. are beveled, in opposite directions, and so as to bear on the outer, or distant edges-as seen at Figs. 3 and 4L. By thus beveling the edges a Cutting edge is afforded, and when the two bars B and C. are brought close together as shown at- Figs. l and t. a greater 7 or less 7 groove will be formed in the bottom of the runner.

It will be observed that a great and peculiar advantage is gained by my improvement for those who are learning to skate, since the bearing surface can be extended to a. great degree to enable the skater to become accustomed to the ice, and as he improves he can move the bai's B and C. closer together until they are brought tight up as seen at Figs. l and l, and constitute the ordinary grooved ruimer skate. It will be seen that a skate thus constructed is particularly advantageous, since the young skater can commence with the bars far apart, and adjust them closer together as he improves (by putting in thin blocks c) and finally bring the two bars B and C. into a single runner. Another great advantage arises in this method of constructing the skate viz: the facility and perfection with which the groove, Or gutter can be formed, for by detaching the bars B and C. each may loe ground easily with any degree of bevel, and when brought together will form a perfect guttered runner. The design of the runner and stock can be varied from that shown by me and forms no part of my invention.

Having described the nature and construetion of my improved skate what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent s- The combination with the stock ofthe two adjustable runner bars B. and C. with their lower edges beveled as speoied, the whole 10 arranged and operating as described for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal.

GEORGE WV. DYER.4 [Ls] Witnesses:

MERRIT CLARK, Jos. P. CANFIELD. 

